The most sophisticated lifeboat in the country entered service in the region today.

The new arrival took its place in Redcar, east Cleveland, a stone's throw from the world's oldest lifeboat.

The Sir James Knott celebrates its 200th anniversary next year and sits proudly looking out to sea in the Zetland Lifeboat Museum on the seafront in the town.

But the new £86,000 Atlantic 75 class - the most modern boat in the RNLI fleet - is a million miles away from the original wooden rowing boat.

Yesterday crews spent the day taking part in sea trials with the new boat to ensure that by sundown they were completely familiarised with her and she would be ready for action if the call came through.

The new boat has been paid for by the Leicester branch of the RNLI and will be called "Leicester Challenge II."

The boat has caused so much excitement in lifeboat circles that a crew from the Dutch service are spending a week in Redcar to find out more about the boat.

It has state-of-the-art radar and global positioning equipment as well as a balancing system that should help stabilise the boat in rough weather.

It replaces the current existing Atlantic 21 lifeboat "Leicester Challenge," which has been at the Teesside seaside town for the past 12 years.

In that time she has been launched 275 times, has assisted more than 350 people and saved no less than 114 lives.

But as delighted as they are with the new boat, Mr Cammish said it is sad to see the old boat go.

"B580, as we know her, has been a fantastic lifeboat for us.

"She has never failed to launch when called out, she has never even looked like letting us down and if truth be known she has several timess got us out pf very difficult situations when operating in weather and sea conditions much more severe than she was designed for. If our new lifeboat servies us as well we will be well pleased."

Leicester Challenge will now enter the RNLI's reserve fleet at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, next week and could find herself at any RNLI station in the country while their own boat is undergoing repairs or refit.